Welcome


We'll periodically post images of vessels that drift past our perch on the Bosphorous. If you are a new arrival, the Bosphorous is the waterway (straits) that divides Europe from Asia and cuts right through the middle of Istanbul. You could swim from Europe to Asia (or vice versa) in about 30 minutes - if you could survive the boat traffic and/or the pollution.

The blog's perch is about half way up (or down) the Bosphorous - not the city's most supreme view. Yet, it's not too high, not too low - good enough to afford a decent view. Then again, anything better in terms of view will cost you upward of a million. Dollars. No... more. Much more. This view is free.

The aim here is to provide regular images and - where possible - further details regarding boat traffic between the Black Sea, the Marmara and points beyond.

It's not CIA - although they used to maintain a prominent viewing location (and probably still do) - The transit through the Bosphorous is Russia's traditional outlet to the world's oceans - most other Russian outlets ice over in the winter. But, there is no hidden blog agenda, no intent to spy. This is just our view and publicly available data related to those views: Boats on the Water. Passing by. Happened to catch them ....

Friday, March 24, 2017

770












It is not clear who this belongs to.
Our guess was Russian, but cannot find registration information for 770 - and it appears not to be Turkish.
There are many men on deck in orange vests .. but where they are from ...??


Heading south
March 24, 2017

Anafarta





Anafarta has been by many times before. We have seen her three times if not more.


Name : Anafarta
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Turkey
Date: 23 Mar 2017
Weather: chilly but finally some clear weather

un-named warship













Rusty old thing headed north to the Black Sea.
Our guess: Russian, but there isnt enough identifying information to tell.

Friday, March 17, 2017

F710 La Fayette




If you zoom in on the very aft section, you can see the name. There are people all over the place as well.









And a little ways back, doing some trailing: Coast Guard 303




Name : La Fayette (F710) and another stop on its trip
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: Frigate
Flags: France
Date: 16 Mar 2017
Weather: chilly but finally some clear weather

Friday, March 3, 2017

Bernard A










Mild haze because the weather is moving from Winter to Spring. Evening time adds to the loss of image quality.

Name : Bernard A
Heading: South /Marmara
Type: container
Flags: Turkey
Date: 03 Mar 2017
Weather: spring is around the corner - maybe

Sormovskiy 48





Not the best/clearest weather as we transition into Spring. Lots of haze that limits the image quality.
Sormovskiy 48 needs a paint job.

Name : Sormovskiy 48
Heading: South /Marmara
Type: cargo
Flags: St.Kitts
Date: 03 Mar 2017
Weather: spring is around the corner - maybe